Kuwaiti opposition takes on royalty, urging poll boycott

Fiona Macdonald
Published: December 2, 2012 - 3:00AM

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KUWAIT'S opposition staged one of the biggest rallies in the Gulf nation's history on Friday, urging a boycott of Saturday's election and calling on the hereditary rulers to share power with elected politicians.

Banners at the rally, attended by tens of thousands, read ''Sovereignty resides in the people'' and ''Absolute power corrupts''. The opposition, which won an election only for parliament to be disbanded, says changes to voting rules are gerrymandering aimed at creating a docile parliament. The government said they were intended to ensure stability.

Islamists, liberals and youth groups inspired by the Arab Spring are among the groups who have been mobilising street protests since last year. They escalated this year after parliament was dissolved in June and the ruling Emir changed election laws.

The government is urging Kuwaitis to treat this election like earlier ones and turn out to vote.

''If we can't hear your voice, how can we understand you?'' says an ad on state television.

Without opposition participation, though, the vote is likely to deepen the political stand-off that has stalled growth and investment projects in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries' third-biggest producer.

''It's very sad because the government is going against the wind, the wind of change,'' said Saad Al Ajmi, a professor at Kuwait University and a former information minister. ''The boycott will be in the area of 70 per cent, if not more. The elections will turn out to be a joke.''

The amendment to the ballot system requires voters to choose only one candidate, instead of four previously. The opposition says it will make it easier for corrupt candidates to buy votes.

Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah said last month he asked the government to change the system to ''bolster the democratic practice'' and protect national unity.

The move to amend election rules sparked Kuwait's most violent street protests, with several demonstrators, including former MPs, arrested. The opposition has said it will use ''all constitutional tools'' to bring down the new parliament.

Bloomberg

This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/world/kuwaiti-opposition-takes-on-royalty-urging-poll-boycott-20121201-2annt.html